Railway crossing



J. OF. CLARK. RAILWAY CROSSING. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1922.

Mamas Patented 001:. 31 1922.

J. OF. CLARK. RAILWAY CROSSING. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1922.

Patented 0015. 31

1922. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. OF. CLARK. RAILWAY CROSSING, APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1922.

Patented 0013.31, 1922..

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- JOHN OIFALLON CLARK, OF CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINQIS ASSIGNOE TO AlVIEBICAN MANGANESE STEELCOF'IPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINIOS, A. CQBJE'OEATION F IMAINE.

RAILWAY CROSSING.

Application filed January 9, 1922. Serial No. 52mm.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN OFALLON CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago Heights, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Crossings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway crossings and has for its principalobject toprovide a crossing composed of a small number of parts connected by joints that will permit the desired flexibility and retain proper alignment of the flangewaye and tread surfaces.

Another object of the invention is tomake the mating faces of the joints. on straight lines so that they may be readily finished by grinding or similar simple operations;

Another object of the invention is to make a crossing in a minimum number of parts with a maximum interchangeability of parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure in which the securing bolts will be stressed lengthwise only, all tendency to movement transversely to the bolts being resisted by interlocking elements integral with the constituent parts of the cross ing. y

Another object of the invention is to make the abutting lines or faces of the joints divide the angles between the flange ways.

Further objects of theinvention will become apparent as the description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing showing a selected embodiment of themvention, and in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the right angle (u'ossing,.one part being displaced. to better illustrate the construction;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views taken on the line 22, 3-3 and 4.4t of Fig. I; i

Fig. 5 is a. plan view ot a crossing for acute angles, one part being displaced to better illustrate the construction;

Figs. 6. 7 and 8 are vertical sectional viewd on the lines 66, 77 and 8-S of Fig. 5, and a j i Fig. 9 is a complementary side elevation of one of the center frogs ofthe crossing shown in Fig. 5; j I v Fig. 10 is a plan view of another crossing for acute angles, two parts being displaced to better illustrate the construction; and

Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 are vertical sectional views on the lines 11-11, 1212, 1a-1e, Pic-14: of Fig. 10.

The right angle crossing shown in Fig. 1, is composed of four parts identical in construction. Each part 10 is composed of a body portion 11 of a cross section indi cated in Fig. 3, and two wing portions 12 and 13. The body portion 11 is substantially U-shaped in crosssection and the legs are equipped with base flanges 15 to give a widebearing on the cross ties. The upper surface of the body has a rail head flange 16 and a guard or guide rail flange 17 separated by a wheel flange way 18.

j The wings 12 and 13 are also substantially ill-shaped in cross section and have similarbaseflanges to rest upon the cross ties. The upper surface of each wing has a rail head flange 19 and a curved guard or guide flange 2O separated by a wheel flange way 21. The flanges 19 and 20 of each wing are adapted to align with corresponding flanges on the body portion of the adjacent part so as to form continuous rail head flanges and guard flanges with continuous wheel flange ways between them. Each wing is also equipped w th an extension 22 adapted to be secured to the end of a rail as indicated in 4. At the junction of each wing with its body portion. each crossing part 10 is mitered as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The niitered face adjacent to the wing 13 is equipped with lugs 23 adapted to bear on sides of the body and wing portions of the adjacent crossing part. This face is also provided with a groove 2% (Fig. 2) adapted to receive a'complemental tongue 25 on the adjacent crossing part. Each crossing part is also provided with a pair of bolt bosses 26 at right angles to the mitered joint faces and extending slightly beyond the rear surfaces of the body and wing portions to provide fiat faces 2'? for the bolt head. Each joint is made fast by two bolts 28 of substantial size passing through these bosses.

From the foregoing it will beclear that the joint faces at the opposite ends of each crossing part 10 are complemental sothat any four crossing parts may be assembled to form a crossing. It will also be clear that the lugs engaging the sides of the body and flange portion will prevent horizontal movement of the crossing parts transversely to the bolts 28 while the tongue fitting in the groove et will prevent vertical movement of tie parts transversely to the bolts It therefore follows that it the bolts are properly drawn up, the tread faces and wheel flanges will be kept accurately aligned while the necessary amount of flexibility will he presout.

In Figs. 5 to 9 I have illustrated a modified form adapted for acute angle crossings. This crossing is also made in four parts, but instead of all four parts being identical they are in two pairs-ll. and being the same, and C and D being the same. In this form the end t ogs 29 and 30 are substantially the same as the frogs at the four corners of the crossing just described, and the joints being substantially the same in all respects except thatthe angle of the miter is different and four bolts 31 are used in each joint, The joints at the middle frogs are very similar, but on account of the short faces, it is necessary to secure them in a slightly difierent manner. Eachjoint includes a tongue 32 and groove 33 and hi 34. corresponding to the tongue 25, groove 2t and lugs 23 of the crossing shown in Fig. '1. The crossing parts, however are provided with ears 35 equipped with aligned bolt holes adapted to receive the securing bolts. 36. In this it will be noted that the bolts pass along the sides of the meeting parts instead of through them, underneath the frog. In order to reinforce this joint, I provide a splice plate 37 which underlies a greater portion of the frog and is secured to the ends of the crossing parts by vertical bolts 38 passing through the splice plate and the bosses 89.

In crossings for very. acute angles, the joint at themiddle frogs of the crossing just described becomes very short, and in order to secure the proper strength, I have pro vided a six piece crossing illustrated in Fig.

j 10. This crossing is composed of three pairs ct like parts. The end frogs ll) and all are substantially the same as the end frogsol' the form shown in 5 except that the angles, of course, are more acute. The center frogs are identical and are termed by the conjunction of three parts meeting: on lines forming a T. A description of one oi these freerwill he sullicient to make the construct on clear. The ends L2 and 4?} have alritting laces. and aligned faces 4:5 and. 4:6 provided with a groove al adapted to re ceive a tongue l-(S on the splice piece ll). 'lhie splice piece 4-9 has "the sockets .30 adapted'to receive lugs '31 on the ends 42 and 4130f the meeting crossing parts. Thethiee parts are secured together by four bolts 52 passed through suitablebosses arranged H teammate the drawing. and the tongue 48 in the groove t? prevents vertical movement of the parts transversely to the bolts while the lugs 51 in the sockets prevent horizontal movement transversely to the bolts so that the wheel flange ways and tread surfaces are kept accurately aligned.

From the foregoing it will be clear that l have provided crossing constructions suited to the various conditions imposed by the different angles at which the tracks cross.

The right angle crossing makes it necessary to keep in stock only one form of crossing part, four of which can be quickly secured together by eight bolts to form a strong and durable crossing. The modification shown in Fig; 5 requires only two forms of parts, and the modification shown in Fig. 11 requires only three forms of parts. In all forms of construction the mating, faces of the joints are formed on straight lines sothat theparts may be finished by grinding or other simple mechanicaloperation. It will be noted that the mating faces at all the joints in the several modifications; lie on lines passing approximately through the center of the crossing. This is a very great convenience in assembling the crossing when the work is to be done on the ties.

I am aware that, changes in the form and proportion of parts, and in the details of construction oft'my invention may e made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I reserve the right to make allsuch changes as fairly within the scope of the follow ing claims I claim :3 r

1. In a railway crossing a plurality of parts having wheel tread surfaces thereon arranged to form a quadrilateral, the joints between the parts being at the corners of the quadrilateral and including mating (faces dividing angles between said tread surfaces, bolts securing the parts together and extending transversely to said mating faces, and means to prevent movement of said parts transversely to said bolts.

2. Ina railway crossing, a plurality of parts having wheel tread surfaces thereon arranged to form aquadrilateral, the joints between the parts being at the corners of the quadrilate 'al and including mating faces dividing angles between said tread surfaces, bolts seciuring the pa: together and extending transversely to said uniting faces, and means to prevent movement of said parts transversely to said bolts both horizontally and vertically. g

.3. In a railway crossing, a plurality of parts having wheel tread surfaces thereon arranged to form a quadrilateral, the joints between the parts being at the comment the quadrilateral and including mating taces dividlng angles between said tread surfaces, bolts securing the parts together and extending transversely to said mating faces, and tongue and groove elements on said parts at the mating faces to prevent movement thereof transversely to said bolts.

4. In a railway crossing, aplurality of parts having flange ways therein arranged to form a quadrilateral, the joints between the parts being at the corners of the quadrilateral and including mating faces dividing angles between. the flange ways, bolts securing the parts together and extending transversely to said mating faces, and inter-.

locking elements on said parts to prevent relative movement thereof transversely to said bolts.

5. In a railway crossing, a plurality of parts having wheel tread surfaces thereon arranged to form a quadrilateral, the joints between the parts being at the corners of the quadrilateral and including mating faces dividing angles between the tread surfaces, bolts passing through said parts transversely to said mating faces, and complementary elements on said. parts to maintain the tread surfaces aligned vertically and horizontally.

6. In a railway crossing, a plurality of like parts having wheel tread surfaces thereon arranged to form a quadrilateral, the joints between the parts being at the corners of the quadrilateral and including mating faces dividing angles between the tread surfaces, bolts securing the parts together and extending transversely to said mating faces, and means to prevent movement of said parts transversely-to said bolts.

7. In a railway crossing, a plurality of hire parts having wheel tread surfaces.

thereon arranged to form a quadrilateral, the joints between the parts being at the corners of the quadrilateral and including,

complementary mating faces dividing angles between the tread surfaces and co-acting to maintain the tread surfaces in alignment, and bolts arranged transversely to said mating faces for securing said members together.

8. In a railway crossing, a plurality of parts having wheel tread surfaces thereon arranged to form a quadrilateral, the joints between the parts being at the corners of the quadrilateral and including mating faces substantially straight in one direction, and. bolts arranged transversely to said mating fares for securing said parts together.

9. In a railway crossing, a plurality of interchangeable parts joined on lines passing through the center of the crossing, the mating faces of the joints being substantially straight in one direction, means for holding the parts in alignment, and bolts for securing said parts together.

- 10. In a railway crossing, a plurality of parts each comprising a body portion and wing portlons, each body portion having thereon a rail head flange and a guide rail flange separated by a wheel flange way, and each wing portion having a similar rail head flange and guide flange separated by similar wheel flange way adapted to align with the corresponding elements on the body portion the inside to the outside of the quadrilateral,

and bolts for securing the parts together.

12. In a railway crossing, a plurality of parts having wheel tread surfaces thereon assembled in angular relation and joined on lines dividing the angle, the mating faces of the joints extending substantialy straight through the joint from side to side, interlocking'means to prevent sliding movement along said faces and bolts for securing the parts together.

13. In a railway crossing, a plurality of parts each having wheel tread surfaces thereon at an angle to each other, and oblique j oint faces adapted to mate when corresponding wheel tread surfaces are aligned, means for securing the faces together and means to prevent sliding movement of said faces.

14. In a railway crossing, a plurality of parts each having wheel tread surfaces arranged at angles corresponding to the angles between the crossing tracks,.and straight line faces dividing the angles between the lines of the intersecting rails, interlocking means for holding the wheel tread surfaces on adjacent parts in alignment and means for securing the parts together.

. 15. In a railway crossing, a plurality of like parts having wheel tread surfaces forming a quadrilateral and straight line faces dividing the angles of the quadrilateral and extending from inside to outside thereof and means for securing the parts together.

16. In a railway crossing, aplurality of parts having wheel tread surfaces thereon,

certain of which are interchangeable, said parts having oint faces dividing angles between the lines of the intersecting rails and extending from inside to outside of the crossing, and means for securing the parts together.

' JOHN OFALLON CLARK. 

